5 Facts About Bernard Edwards' 'Good Times' Bass Line

It is the most sampled bass line in pop history. Bernard Edwards’ bass line from “Good Times” has been used in hundreds of recordings across hip-hop, pop, and dance music.

It directly inspired Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust.” John Deacon has said he was trying to capture a similar groove after hearing “Good Times.”

The line is deceptively simple but rhythmically complex. Edwards played a syncopated pattern with a strong, locked-in feel that made it instantly recognizable and endlessly reusable.

It was recorded live in the studio with no overdubs. Edwards played the bass part in one take alongside the rest of Chic, giving it a natural, unpolished energy.

Its influence extends beyond sampling into direct interpolation. Many artists have replayed the line note-for-note rather than using a sample, especially in early hip-hop and house music.